Narendra Modi's Amethi rally under EC scanner

New Delhi, May 12: The May 5 rally of

in

in Uttar Pradesh has come under the scanner of the

(EC) for possibly surpassing the expenditure limit for a candidate, a

on Monday said.

According to the report, the poll panel was yet to take a final call and the matter could end up in the disqualification of BJP candidate from the constituency Smriti Irani.

This episode is certain to fuel the ongoing row between the BJP and the commission. The BJP attacked the commission after the latter gave a clean chit to Rahul Gandhi after he allegedly violated the model code of conduct in Amethi and also over the fact that Rahul was allowed to conduct a roadshow in the same place in Varanasi where Modi wasn't allowed for security reasons.

The EC said adeverse findings could lead to Smriti Irani's disqualification

"The expenditure observer of the Commission has pointed out the lavish nature of the rally and a probe is on to determine whether the expenses exceeded Rs 70 lakh limit prescribed by EC. The purpose of the probe is to determine whether Irani has violated Section 77 and 78 of the representation of people act (RPA) ," a senior official of the Commission told the ET under the condition of anonymity.

The Congress is also set to lodge an official complaint about the May 5 rally of Modi in Amethi and seek Irani's disqualification this week.

The BJP candidate couldn't be reached for her reaction, said the ET report but sources close to her in the BJP said it was a tit-for-tat politics by the EC.

The EC said it was not following any vindictive tactics vis-a-vis the BJP and counter-alleged that Modi started attacking him after April 30 after the poll panel ordered an FIR to be filed against him on charges of flouting rules.

Oneindia News